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Wednesday, February 01, 2017

Defense Officials Approve Expanded Veterans Online Shopping Benefit

Defense Officials Approve Expanded Veterans Online Shopping Benefit

Image: Stars and Stipes.com

“MILITARY TIMES”“Honorably discharged veterans could be able to shop online at
military exchange websites as early as Veterans Day, barring any
objections from Congress.The change in Defense Department policy would open up online exchange
shopping privileges to about 18 million more people. It won’t apply to
shopping at brick-and-mortar exchange stores.A defense official confirmed a letter announcing the change was
signed Wednesday by Peter Levine, acting undersecretary of defense for
personnel and readiness. Copies were sent to lawmakers on four House and
Senate committees, and if no objections are raised within 30 days,
officials with Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Navy Exchange
Service Command expect to be able to implement the new benefit by
mid-November.The change requires no taxpayer dollars; the expected increase in
exchange profits would bring in more money for programs in the military
community. DoD officials determined that a change in law was not
required to extend the benefit, but notified Congress of their intent to
change policy.AAFES and NEX now have online shopping sites that are open to all
eligible military exchange shoppers regardless of service branch – www.shopmyexchange.com andwww.mynavyexchange.com,
respectively. Those eligible are limited to active duty, Guard and
reserve members and retirees, along with dependent family members, and
100 percent disabled veterans (and certain others).
But most of those who leave the military before retirement – about 90
percent of veterans – aren’t eligible to shop at exchanges.Pentagon officials have been deliberating whether to extend the
benefit for nearly three years. In 2014, AAFES CEO Tom Shull said he
proposed the idea as a way to give “a modest benefit to honor the
service” of those who left the military before retirement age. He noted
that among this group are many veterans with four, five or more combat
deployments in the post-9/11 era.Retirees won’t be the only beneficiaries, according to an internal
DoD document: Expanding the online customer base will strengthen the
exchanges’ online business to better serve the customers, and the
expansion is expected to “conservatively double the exchanges’ online
presence,” thus yielding better prices for customers and more
competitive merchandise.Exchanges sell items at a discount, without a sales tax, and any
profits after operating costs are either returned to the services’
morale, welfare and recreation programs, or used for construction and
other improvements to stores.Thus, officials expect the expanded benefit will also help shore up
the financial situation of morale and recreation activities, which have
been under budget pressures. Exchange officials project between $18
million to $72 million in extra profits each year when the program is
fully implemented and matured. Based on the exchanges’ current dividend
policies, the extra profits will add about $9 million to $36 million in
dividends to installation morale, welfare and recreation programs.
Generally, half of exchanges’ profits go to MWR and half go to improve
facilities.Since 2014, AAFES officials have been working toward the goal of
preparing for an expanded customer base, including revamping and
relaunching their website. One issue will be verifying eligibility: The
Defense Manpower Data Center serves as the sole source for verification
of military customers and has electronic records that could verify about
87 percent of veterans.Veterans not in the system will be able to update their files.
Initial DMDC setup costs of about $500,000 will be reimbursed by AAFES,
according to an internal document.”http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/defense-officials-approve-expanded-veterans-online-shopping-benefit

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About Me

2 Tours in US Army Vietnam.
Retired from 36 Years in the Defense Industrial Complex after working on 25 major weapons systems, many of which are in use today in the Middle East.
Volunteer MicroMentor. I specialize in Small, Veteran-owned, Minority-Owned and Woman-Owned Businesses beginning work for the Federal Government.
MicroMentor is a non-profit organization offering free assistance to small business in business planning, operations, marketing and other aspects of starting and successfully operating a small enterprise.
You can set up a case with me at MicroMentor by going to:
http://www.micromentor.org/
key words: "Federal Government Contracting"

The Colors of Hastings

EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE

My gratitude to the person or persons who sent to me a new Sony Cybershot DSC-H90 Camera.There was no return address or acknowledgment of the kindness, other than a one sentence, typewritten note that read:

"For all that you do for others"

I am very grateful and will put the marvelous precision instrument to good use - Ken